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A QUEST FROM 
THE WILDERNESS 



A QUEST FROM 
THE WILDERNESS 



By 
WILLIAM H:' PHIPPS 




PHILADELPHIA 

THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY 

1919 



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coptright, 1919, by 
William H. Phepps 



©CI.A533637 

AUG -2i9jy 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

PEACE on earth good will toward men 
Such was the love of God for sin- 
ful man. 
He sent His Son, the Nazarene, to dwell 
On earth a while, 
So did the mission tell 
In far off Africa, deep in the hidden wilds, 
To heathen tribes benighted, where the 

child's 
Life is sacrificea to appease imagined gods: 
Where in swamps and fens huge crocodiles 
Grow fat on human flesh; 
Where on sleepy isles. 

The langorous lotus blooms in tropic sun; 
Where time is naught, and slow the waters 

run. 
Where great trees, o'er grown with tangled 

vine, 
Shut out the sun; his burning rays scarce 

shine 
At noontide; 



7] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

"WTiere, when the night has come. 
Great beasts go out to seek their prey; 
Beasts that cower in the light of day : 
Where on the plain, the timid hartbeests 

fly , 

In hasty flight when comes the jungle cry 

Of swift and sudden death. 

Since Christ has come, in all the world is 

peace, 
So spake the preacher, and now in Greece, 
Rome, all Europe; in far off lands 
Crowned with snow, and on the burning 

sands 
Of India; There is a rising tide that swells 
In old Cathy. 
So on he tells. 

How, since this gentle soul was crucified 
Dumb gods of clay, no longer deified. 
Have been cast down and thrown in fire. 
Lo, earth is blossoming. Men's souls are 

higher. 
Where once were temples to pagan gods 

and lust, 



[81 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Now are builded altars unto the God we 

trust. 
He is the God of love, of tender mercy, and 

just 
To all men. 

The javelin and the spear do rust, 
Where nations worship at the feet of him. 
Who died upon the cross, and in good 

Joseph's tomb 
Was buried. 

He, from this sepulcher, as from the womb, 
Was born anew, 

The mother heart which searched for him 
Cried out to know where he was lain, 
For still the light was dim. 
How Peter, John, and Paul this story told, 
And came to Rome, the wondrous city old 
To preach the gospel. 
Now, stands St. Peter's where once were 

burned 
Christians. 

From paganism the world has turned 
To Christianity. 



[9] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Bells from many spires 

Ring joyously; and many- voiced choirs 

Sing songs of holy peace and love of God, 

For now we follow Him, the Son, 

How in far America, the flag of stars 

In heaven's blue, seeks not for wars. 

But, were more nearly to the blessed 

throne; 
Where man walks free, with freedom great- 
est known. 
Thus did he preach with earnest zeal and 

fire 
To his assembled auditors, to mother, son 
and sire. 

n 

THEN said the chief, 
"I do believe on him who thus can 
bring 
Peace to mankind; 
Ye of this tribe, we chall cling 
Unto the faith this good man brings. 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Serve ye my son, he shall your ruler be. 
While I shall journey far across the sea. 
I would give glory unto him, who, from the 

dead. 
Shook off the swaddling clothes. 
No longer do I dread 
The time when these hands will be cold in 

death 
When stops the breath and beats the heart 

no more. 
For then to heaven shall the spirit soar. 
Let us from wars be free, go tell the chiefs, 
No longer in this land shall there be grief. 
For God is love, true God of kindly love. 
Who sent his Son to man from heaven 

above. 
Now shall we live forever. Go till your 

fields. 
Bring forth the citron and all that nature 

yields. 
I go, when I return, ye shall assemble all. 
For must ye know what I have seen. 
I call 



[11] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

On him to give me grace and strength and 

time 
To do his bidding and I shall hear the 

chime 
Of bells, and hear the songs that tell his 

glory; 
When I return to ye, shall faithful tell the 

story." 

Ill 

THE assembled chiefs and multitude 
with wonder 
And amaze saw him depart, nor did 
the thunder. 
Nor the rain distract them in their awe. 
For he, their chief, was going hence, he 

whose law 
Did rule. 

Would he ne'er return again, 
And give command unto their fighting 
men? * * * * 

The caravan departs loaded with ivory 
and spice 



[12 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

To pay the way. Untaught in barter — ^Vice 

was not 
Known to them. Straight, clean limbed, 

clear of eye. 
With rhythmic motion the burden bearers 

vie 
The others to outdo; and all the while 

they chant 
A wild song of the forest. 
When the rays were slant. 
At even-tide, they onward press'd graceful 

and strong 
As when at morning, they break into song. 
Thus passed day on day, no faltering, no 

tiring. 
And when at dawn of day or day expiring. 
Command was given to take up the task 
Or lay it down, after, or for, a rest. 
Each was of his master proud, who blest 
Their service by kindly thought and deed. 
They crossed the forest to the desert sands 
Where marauding bands 
Did oft infest the way. 



13 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

"Fight ye not, men. 

Protect ye only our possessions and then 
Give food and drink 
These know not the Christ, 
And we shall teach of him by kindly deed. 
And tell the story. And we shall plead 
With them as did the mission, for he did say 
*Go to the farthest end and show the way.' 
Even as he did us. 
So as the wind doth scatter seed 
We will the gospel spread, and like the steed. 
From far Arabia, the trackless main shall 
cross." 

IV 

1^ ND when a moon had come and gone, 
y-Jk and then anew, 
^ "^ A disk appeared, a silver thread 

that grew 
From day to day, until, at last the eastern 

sky 
Was silvered, as the sun went down, 
behind the dry 



lu 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

And trackless desert, 

Lo, there appeared 

The waving fronds of palms, that reared 

Their heads across the silver light; 

And once again was heard the call of birds 

at night; 
While far below a glinting glistening beam 
Quivered and danced in waves upon a 

stream. 
It was the Nile, and far beyond was traced 
In shimmering light. On either side was 

laced 
By palms like columns guarding a silvered 

hall; 
Nature's battlements like towered wall 
Did guard the farther shore. 
There on the north a field 
Ran low and level; and grew a richer 

yield 
Of harvest below the pyramids. Such was 

the sight 
That greeted Chief and warrior at the fall 

of night. 



115] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

V 

AND this is Egypt," said the chief, 
"Egypt of fame 
^ That came to us in stories. Egypt 

whose name 
Was known ages long gone even in our 

forest home. 
Our chieftain sires have told us oft, from 

Rome 
Came many jBghting men to this fair land 
And overthrew her kings. 
How on the desert sand, 
At Sakhara blood flowed like redden'd 

wine. 
Across the desert came warriors like a vine 
Never ending, on and on, for days and days 
Burning, robbing, pillaging, and captive 

took away 
In slavery, even as my people were 

enslaved. 
And made to row great ships, few were 

saved 
In days of never ending tasks. 



116] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

The dead into the sea were cast 

And were devoured by huge monsters of 

the deep ; 
Foul scorpions o'er the sick did creep; 
A molten sun struck down the living at 

their task. 
While sat in state the masters, guarding 

casks 
Which from the slaves were savagely 

denied, 
Who from their thirst at labor died, — 
Nor could they flee, 

For wind and wave on every side forbade 
And so they toiled and burned, sickened 

and died; 
The poor flesh bereft of life was spurned 

* aside. — 
And scarcely were they worse than Egypt's 

king, 
Cheops, who drove his slaves across yonder 

wing 
Of the Great Nile's plain. 
Huge stones were brought 



[17] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Across yon plain pulled by thongs so 

wrought. 
That on the brow of slaves they pressed 
Until their staring eyes burst from beneath 
The crushing skull. 

So was yonder pyramid piled unto the sky, 
That he might live while night birds fly. 
And in the midst of that huge pile of stone 
Was his sarcophagus, from solid marble 

hewn; 
'Tis now despoiled, and from the heart 
Of that vast pile was torn 
The urn that closed to hold him while the sun 
Each day should sail along the way it 

ever runs." 

VI 

NOW do I see Old Egypt born anew. 
And yon fair city whose jewels 
like the dew 
In morning sun sparkle and dance and flash. 
The rippling waters of the Nile do surge 
and splash. 



[18 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

With passing ships. 

There are many calls, 

I know not what, shrill and loud, come o'er 

the city walls 
Its tumult is maddening to my soul. 
But, hold, the world wars not, peace is the 

goal. 
Somehow I feel a stifling; all seems to 

pant 
For gain. Now do I bethink me, and do 

grant 
A pagan city much, for much they have to 

learn 
Of him the Nazarene. 
Lo, still they burn 
Incense to strange gods even as we 
In far ofip forest, until to me 
Came the mission. 
Here, will we for the night abide 
In the free air, and on the morrow ride 
Into the city which yonder sets in light 
That sends a halo in the starlit night." 



119 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

VII 

SCARCE did the eastern sky betray 
The promise of a glowing newborn 
day; 
Scarce called the morning bird from hidden 

nest 
When rose the caravan from broken rest; 
So strange the night — behind, a white 

sand plain 
Where earth is dry and parched, never rain 
Doth fall — before, the gurgling waters flow 
Tell of the rising Nile below. 
Fed by far oflf streams whose fountain head. 
Lies in the forest far beyond the dead 
Sahara, whose trackless sands do blow 
Onward and onward like the driven snow 
W^hich drifts before the wind; 
And in the moonlight's pale refulgence bind 
Into plains of arctic whiteness, with rippling 

waves; 
Covering vast cities, and the graves 
Of multitudes, dead centuries long gone. 



[20] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Now all was hurry, the caravan as one 

Was eager to be going on its way 

To the strange city, when the new day 

Broke forth, and her golden rays 

Shone yellow on the higher pyramid. 

The Sphinx facing the east was hid 

In the dusk of early morning, as they passed 

Into the valley of the Nile, by great palms 

Which shade the avenue leading on to 

Cairo. 
The early morning car came forth. 
As if to meet them, from the north. 
Then glided by and left them far behind. 
Its dazing swiftness and its noisy grind 
Seemed like the lightning and the thunder's 

roar. 
That rend the forests when the torrents 

pour. 
A whirring sound approached them from 

behind 
And with a sough shot by in dusty wind. 
Their hearts beat fast while swift they 

strode along 



[21 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Words were not spoken, hushed their forest 

song! 
Higher and higher the temple turrets grew, 
And every turn more turrets brought in 

view. 
Hoarse the cry of drivers plying hard the 

lash 
On hapless steed. Sounds harshly brake 

and crash 
From moiling throng that filled the narrow 

ways, 
Bordered by clifflike buildings, shutting out 

the day, 
Which seemed infested caves. 

"Nay, let us on along the rippling waves 
Nor stay us here — ^This city did enslave 
Our people, that ever would be free, 
And knows not the patient man of Galilee." 
So spake the chief to break away the 

charm 
Seductive to his people, he from harm 
Would save them. 



22] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

"Our quest is not in Egypt, but, is far 

away, 
Where sets the throne of this, a new born 

day; 
Where once to beasts were martyrs fed, in 

Rome, 
There shall we worship, in the mission's 

home, 
Him, who died to save and set us free. 
Nor shall we falter in this pagan inn. 
To go astray, accursed in its sin? 
Lo, here upon this building, carved of 

stone, 
Stands high the cross; thaU we may call 

our own. 
Emblem it is, eternal peace to all 
Who follow him nor from the service fall. 
Behold we walk the streets of Cairo old 
Untrammeled, nor do fetters hold 
Our limbs. 

This pagan city hath touched His hand 
Here, in .His childhood, from a distant land 
They brought Him, safe from the Pharisee 



[23J 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Who saw in Him new teachings for 

humanity. 
So now it comes we pass adown the river Nile 
"^Miere once the Mamelukes ruled, a while. 
In savage lust; 

Then blood of slave hard stricken flowed 
Upon the desert sands, 
We now unbound pass in safety by 
Their ruined city, 
And, overhead we hear the cry 
Of ravens that hover o'er the dead. 
Who worshiped pagan gods, and in their 

dread 
Of horrors, pestilence, famine, want of 

bread. 
Did sacrifice fair maidens to the river god, 
WTiose yearly overflow replenished Eg;^^pt's 

sod. 
Come, we shall follow down unto the sea 
This winding stream. 
There is the city Alexandria 
WTiere once the ruler of great pagan Rome 
For love of Cleopatra forsook his home." 



[24] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

VIII 
i4D0WN the sparkling waters of the 
JX Nile 
-^ "^ In patient silence they wend their 

way. 
On the morning of a new born day, 
The sea spreads out before them far and 

wide, 
Where rush the waters in a flooding tide. 
Far in the north, where sky and sea seem 

one, 
Far in the east whence comes the morning 

sun 
At break of day to light them on their way. 
Is naught but waters of a boundless sea 
Bearing great ships, that proudly plow 

their way. 
Beyond horizon; beyond the bounds of day. 
The lapping waves aglinting dance around 
The laden'd ship which waits to bear 

beyond 
Alexandria's historic mart. 
The forest caravan to Rome's majestic port. 



25] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

WEIGH now the anchor," the cap- 
tain gives command, 
"Hoist well the sails." 

The ship with slow, majestic tread, 

Moves forward, her whiten'd sails out- 
spread. 

Calmly she turns her prow northward in 
the sea. 

Then onward moves surely and stead- 
fastly. 

No slaves are beaten with a stinging 
lash, 

But, willingly their burdens bear away 

Singing a song of love. 

Sweet voiced madonnas sing of the 
Nazarene; 

And maidens sing of lovers left behind. 

Or, lovers soon to see. 

The ship o'er surging billows rides 

Safe to her harbor on the rolling tides. 



126] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

IX 

WHAT happened on the way, nor 
what betide 
The pilgrim chieftain and his 
warriors tried 
We reckon not. 

Unto that city by the Tiber's side, 
Broad river bearing on the mountain's 

flood, 
Oft reddened by the flow of human blood. 
Our chief was bent. All else was naught 
His quest was with a holy mission fraught, 
His ecstacy was fevered, his eye burned 

bright 
When first he saw St. Peter's golden light. 
Towers and pinnacles in majesty untold; 
A saintly glory did his vision hold. 
The mother church of Christ, in pure white 

stone 
Sat in her majesty on the hills of Rome, 
In days long gone, where men were fed to 

beasts 
Midst ribald jesting at a Nero's feast, — 



[271 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 



Fair maids were bartered for a sack of gold 
To sensuous gluttons, for their pleasure 

sold. 
There reeking pits with dying men were 

strewn 
Whose steaming entrails were to monsters 

thrown, 
That surged against the bars their cage 

to break, 
And drink the blood that ran in rivers on 

the floor. 



STILL stands the ruins of Rome's 
etruscan day 
A noble monument of an ignoble sway. 
There, too, the forum, itself a work of art, 
Where gathered tradesmen in a world 

famed mart. 
There when disputes arose in selling of their 

wares 
Swift justice came; where bribers set their 
snares. 



28 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Where Anthony, beside great Caesar's bier, 
Showed Caesar's wounds and touched the 

falling tear 
With frenzy — then love was turned to hate 
Of Brutus and blood lust sought to sate. 
Above and over all St. Peter's lofty dome 
In quiet majesty stood, the church's home, 
Magnificent and grand, strong and 

beneficent. 
Her cross emblazoned in the sun's ascent, 
Shines chaste as gold above surrounding 

dross 
All else beside is seeming filth and gross; 
The whole a gem of purity and thought. 
Now, as the chief did enter at the door 
A peace and quietude, all troubles o'er. 
Stole over him. 
It was God's sanctuary, the silence made 

him feel 
The Nazarene was near. 
Peace on earth good will from man to man. 
He taught to all; took children by the 

hand. 



[29 1 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Of the kingdom these, God's chosen band. 
While thus he stood, ascended from the 

choir 
Ave Maria. 
The chief fell prostrate before the holy 

throne 
Believing God was there and Christ his 

own. 
When the strains had ceased, in amber 

Hght, 
There came a kindly priest, robed in pure 

white, 
Who raised him to his feet and bade him 

follow on. 
The scintillating rays of morning sun 
Shone through the windows of the vaulted 

dome, 
Down through the shadows, a straight 

lanced chrome, 
A benediction on the chancel there, 
As on the altar of Elijah came the fire 
From heaven. 
"It is enough," the chief exclaims in awe, 



30 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 



"I know God lives, in Him there is no 

flaw. 
Jesus of Nazareth rose from the grave 
To show mankind God's power to save. 
Not all the sands of deserts, nor the 

seas, 
Which lie between this temple and our 

leas. 
Nor yet the boundless forest whence we 

came. 
Do matter now, for I shall bear to 

them. 
My people, a tale of what my eyes have 

seen. 
My ears have heard and whence my feet 

have been." 
Through sacred chancel was the chieftain 

led 
A benediction said above his humbled 

head 
Then from St. Peter's went his joyful 

way 
Into the sunlight of a glorious day. 



isij 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 



IN holy ecstacy he walked the cobbled 
street 
So lightly trod, scarce touching with 

his feet. 
Now and again he paused to turn 
And gaze upon St. Peter's; and to spurn 
The proffered trophies of the ruined halls 
Of ancient Rome, whose shattered walls 
May still be seen. 

It seemed a sacrilege, there at the throne 
Of Christianity, pagan bauds were shown 
And barter made of tawdry wares; 
It savored much of old Judea's fares 
Charg'd by grasping tradesmen who were 

thrown 
Out of the temple. 

Almost beneath St. Peter's holy cross,. 
Was sordidness, and filth, irreverence and 

dross. 
He turned his steps to wider streets and 

fields 
Where all was quiet and where nature yields 



[32] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Rich harvest for the needs of man; 
There to ponder, dream and meditate 
Upon the sacred theme; 
The mother's holy dream; 
And on that morn in Bethlehem 
When all the stars did sing, 
And heralds of the new born king 
Did shout for joy ; for there was peace 
Holy and lasting, kindly, loving peace. 



Lo! Now there came a sound of clanking 

swords, 
Hoarse command in harsh tyrannic words, 
Greeted his startled ear. 
And then came by with shouldered guns, 
And bayonets firmly belted on. 
Long lines of soldiers whose rhythmic tread 
Echoed along the road o'er cities of the 

dead; 
And mounted men with sabers by their side 
Were stern of mien, and haughty in their 

pride. 



[33] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Legion on legion passed in grand review, 
A never ending line, and many pennants 

flew 
O'er flaunting plumes. 

Now rumbled by the heavy carriage guns, 
That, like a scythe, mow down men 
In the harvest of death. 
Mile after mile of warriors passed him by; 
On either side were mothers with streaming 

eyes. 
Close clasping babes unto their heaving 

breasts; 
And children watching closely for the 

crest 
Of fathers for one last smile 
They may not see again; 
And maidens, gripped in agony of loss 
In separation from the lover, cling to the 

cross 
And say a prayer in silence. 
While he to far off lands goes by. 
His face is stern, and, if he hears the cry 
He dares not let her know and passes on, 



[34] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

One of the millions that have gone 

Into this world-wide war, to lay 

Their bleaching bones on hillside, far away. 

XI 

OLD men were left behind, but loudly 
cheer'd 
As regimental banners floated by. 
And wished that they might call back youth 
And march away to fields of glory. 
Wisely they nod, and over tell the story 
Of other wars. Ever and anon. 
Some aged man did cry "God bless my son, 
And bring him back to me." 
Then, perhaps, a maid 
Did take his arm, a caressing hand she laid 
Upon his silver'd hair, her own sobs hush*d, 
To cheer the stricken father, with heart so 

crushed. 
At being thus bereft in his declining years. 
While to her eyes oft rushed the blinding 

tears. 



135] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

XII 

THE chieftain's burning soul was torn. 
What can this mean? When I did 
turn 

From savage strife to Christian peace, 

I thought there were no wars, the world to 
grace 

Had turned. 

Yet this is war, in this a Christian 
land. 

But only now, a little while, I did stand 

Beneath the sacred dome; and many- 
spires 

I see emblazoned with the fire 

Of God's descending sun. 

These men were armed with steel and 
sword, 

March as we marched, before the mission's 
word 

Was brought to us. And women wept; 

Old men a benediction called; children 
crept 

Closely to the mother as if afraid. 



[36] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

What means the sorrow of father, wife and 

maid? 
Are Christ's teachings naught? Have men 

I gone mad 
Serving their gods of lust and greed? 

"Ye aged man, father of many sons, 
What mean the legions and the many 

guns? 
May I this ask of you?" 

Aged Man: — "Aye, that you may, those 

sons of mine 
Have gone to war. Were they not fine?' 

Chief: — "Then, were these men so proudly 

gone to fight 
A people in some foreign land, for right 
And bring them to our God?" 

Aged Man: — "True, it is the army of our 

king 
Gone to fight in foreign lands. 
But not with those who know not God, 



137 1 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Christians they are who would invade our 

sod. 
Despoil us of our freedom. 
For there be kings who for ambition's sake 
Would rule the world, and sorrow make 
By slaughter of our sons." 

Chief: — "How can this be, if they be true 
To Christ's teachings.'^ In this, the new 
And holy peace where all men are brothers .f^" 

Aged Man: — "Aye, so they are, but, 

brothers do forget 
And fight. When the king commands 
Then must they go for country's cause 
Protect our firesides and our laws." 

Chief: — "Are then these enemies upon the 

soil 
Of your home lands to despoil.^" 

Aged man: — "Nay, not yet, but, nearer and 

nearer comes 
A siege to lay upon our borders. 



[381 



A QUEST PROM THE WILDERNESS 

Other lands have fallen, and the drums 
Are sounding nearer all the while; 
We would repel invasion of our soil. 
Yea, too, perhaps, extend our borders 
So, that again those lands, 
Despoiled of us in former wars. 
May once again be ours." 

Chief: — "Are such men Christians?" 

Aged man: — "Most truly do they claim to 

be 
And daily oflfer prayers 
For success in arms. 
Even, as we 
Do offer supplication." 

Chief: — " Christ was meek and lowly 

Nor did resistance make. 

When impious hands upon this holy 

Man were laid in violence. 

He taught forgiveness 

And that to gain the world 

Was to loose all. 



[39] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Now, is the pall, 

Strife, bitterness and hate 

To conquer all, and passions sate, 

And be the end? 

How can Christians enemies be?" 

Aged maw — "It is the greed of power 

brings us wars, 
For now is come a time of change, the 

scars 
So made will lasting be, small nations cease 
To rule. The strong to them bring peace. 
Some day will come a Europe all one land, 
With one flag and under one hand. 
Mayhap, an emporor or king. 
Nay, may it be a council, that shall bring 
Peace to all. 
A great coimcil of delegates, some from 

Rome 
Berlin, Paris, London, all greater grown 
Because of the end of strife. 
This council shall make laws for all. 
Preside over all. 



[40J 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

And in that council shall justice sway 
The minds of men. No longer force 
Our freedom take and men coerce 
In wanton strife. 
Then shall the w^fe 

Be glad; the mother at the fireside sing; 
And children's laughter fill the home. 
Then shall the lover place the wedding 

ring 
Upon the maiden's hand. 
One great court shall try the cause of 

nations; 
One just court for man in all his stations 
Nor shall there be appeal to arms. 
And husbandmen shall till their farms 
Free from all wars. The sword shall rust, 
The gun be broken. All shall trust 
The justice of his cause to gain 
Decision, without resort to war's 
Inhuman stain. 

It is not yet, for many wars have come. 
Since Christ came to this earth, 
To brighten hearth and home. 



141] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

But after each was come a better peace 
We are a little nearer to the truth. 
Our laws a little better, more in ruth. 
More nearly to the teaching of the 

Nazarene. 
Man is frail, so frail, that e'en 
We do forget his frailties, and ao conderon 
As unforgivable, and as unforgiven. 
E'en on the cross He said, "Father, forgive 

them." 
Shall we not remember this in hope of 

heaven. 
That He brought to man. 
Sin is ambition running wild, 
And next to that is envy which doth drive 
To deeds of malice. It is the child 
Of hatred; and the tongue that stings 
In slander oft brings 
Destruction. It tears at fellow men 
And doth deride and scorn, then 
Strike to the dust for naught but envy 
The best that comes to earth. 
Was not Christ crucified because of envy? 



[421 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Because the priests and Pharisees saw the 

birth 
Of a new day? 
And their sway 
Over the people did wane. 
For Christ did teach new things, 
A scripture they would not have 
For His was love and theirs was hate for 

hate, — 
Aye, and he forgave them that slew him 
Unto the father did ascend a prayer, 
Tather, forgive, they know not what they 

do.' 
Nor do we now know the thing we do, 
And crucify again with hate. 
When He did give us love 
To be our rule and guide. 
E'en in the church where we do go 
On bended knee and pray for safe return 
Of loved ones in the far off land 
Dissensions do arise. 
And many sects go forth proclaiming 
They, and only they, know the way 



143] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

The surer road to paradise. 

When after all what matters it 

When, how or why the Man of Galilee 

Gave all for us, mankind redeeming. 

This is enough to know, all else is naught. 

All else with no importance fraught; 

Not forms nor creeds will ever save a soul. 

The love of God, and man for man, the 

whole 
Of Christianity." 

XIII 

NOW I thank thee, thou hast cleared 
the way 
For I was troubled in what I saw 
today. 
And Christ taught true. 
But men are weak, and in their weakness 

do 
Vain things; and set at naught his word 
Ambition rules and grasps a valiant sword 
Their brother man to slay 
After this war will come a brighter day. 



[44] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 



Por after strife comes peace, 

Just as day breaks forth 

After a night of storm, 

All the while there stands the church 

Built on a rock, the rock of truth. 

In peaceful times men to the field 

Go forth and labor and as they wield 

The sickle singing of God's love 

And rev'rently petition Him above 

To bless their work; and follow his 

command. 
But the ambition, hate and envy of kings 
Call forth to battle with fellow Christians. 
What crimes are theirs, these Christian 

kings 
Who know the way, but outride Philistians 
To sate their lust for power and pride, 
Yea, call on God for conquest, as they hide 
Behind a chanted prayer. 
'Tis true that I did take my men to war 
And do the things which now I most abhor. 
I knew not Christ, but these kings do. 
And claim to follow Him most true; 



[45 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Were I to do so now, then would I sin 

And they with knowledge 

More guilty are than I have been. 

Now shall I to my people tell the tale 
When I return. The clouded veil 
Is torn away. 

And I do know that Christ is love and 

peace, 
But man is weak and shall his weakness 

cease 
When he shall put aside ambition, pride 

and hate. 
And he shall know that only love the gate 
Wherein to enter paradise. 
'Twas so with Rome; Caesar would rule 

the world 
Across the seas his many legions hurled; 
So, too, with Alexander the Great; 
Napoleon in his time brought on his fate; 
God wills not that man shall with the sword 
Encompass earth, but that His word 



146] 



A QUEST FROM THE WILDERNESS 

Shall over all prevail; nor till that day 
Shall any man in all the world have sway. 
Christ taught us love and with His love is 

given 
A new born hope, a hope for us in heaven. 
Men are as tides, now ebb, now at the flood 
Today at peace, tomorrow, shedding blood. 
God's sun shines on and changeless in His 

rule 
The heavens His glory; the earth His 

stool. 
From out of darkness came I into day 
So man must come; for this, let mankind 

pray." 



THE END. 



47] 



OBBABV Of 



CONGRESS 



